"The head is still missing. Without it, we can’t know who this person truly was." A shadow crossed Ocean’s expression, grim and thoughtful.

"If it isn’t hidden in the places we’ve searched... then it must lie somewhere Nox cannot reach." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Either too far—or far too close."

The tension lingered making them all shift uncomfortably and Ocean sighed.

"Still, I have sent some people in the places where I have suspicions for the head to be found. If they do find it then, we’ll have one step ahead of our enemy who planted it all." Ocean said, finally letting his usual soothing calmness seep through his voice.

"We still have no idea about the identity of the person who is performing all these acts but they probably know that Kai is a Dragon, they probably also know that I’m a Dragon and that’s why they had attempted on us thrice. At the ball, I’ll identify anyone who’s either this practioner of these curses or someone who’s connected to them and then we’ll begin the next step."

Ocean looked at everyone, and added, "I know the Princes trials will also begin so, I’ll invite both Prince Eric and Prince Carlos to stay at Ryujin mansion and with Prince Carlos here, if the one behind this is the Golden Serpent then she wouldn’t want to do anything that would cause him even indirect harm."

"Further," he said, covering all the points related to it so that the others won’t have a lot of topics to worry about.

"As of now, till the trials end, my special operations team will be responsible for guarding all of your territories and families so, I want you all to stay calm and work well. Do you all understand?" Ocean asked.

The men and ladies nodded in response.

"If there’s any questions please go ahead," he said.

Rune quickly stepped up taking the opportunity, "Do you really think that they know you and Kai are Dragons? I mean, if they were connected to the Golden Serpent then they must have already told them and it would be a matter of time until she exposed it to overthrow your power."

Ocean nodded, "I understand that, but currently, I have more than one people around me who would become my shields against Golden Serpent exposing me as a Dragon."

Rune blinked and Marquis Fairisles stepped ahead, "Mordino is a religious country who worships Dragons, and with the Queen herself staying around Marquis Ocean, the Golden Serpent wouldn’t want their relationship to be harmed by painting Marquis Ocean’s image evil."

"But it’s still a matter of concern." Lord Hawke mused.

"It’s fine, we do have something on our hands that would keep the Golden Serpent from making any move about that." Ocean smirked.

"What do you mean, Master?" Lord Devil asked watching the dark smirk.

And Ocean started, "Remember Douglas Clark?"

He explained the whole thing to the ones present and almost everyone had their jaws dropped to the ground hearing Ocean’s plan.

"By the time the Golden Serpent has the chance to take a jab at me, her world would have already burned to ashes." Ocean chuckled.

The men present slowly regained color to their white faces, some looked angry while others were relieved.

"The Golden Serpent has really climbed over dead bodies to reach her throne," Lord Devil sighed.

"I’m not even surprised, at this point to know that she had even assassinated Crown Prince Soros." Lord Hawke spoke.

Ocean glanced at Silas, Marquis Fairisles and Rune before he turned his eyes to Sol, Kai and Davian. He would have to kick Davian out after the ball and he had made the preparations for that as well, it was just that his escort was a surprise for him.

"Are there any more questions?" Ocean asked.

Kai raised his hand, "Wha-What if they use the same technique as they did with me when they come here? I-I can’t try to fight back but Sol won’t be able to."

Ocean looked at Sol who glanced at him and then said, "You don’t need to worry about that, Kai. I won’t be attending the ball."

"Why?"

Three voices asked in unison, Ocean, Kia and Davian.

Sol looked at the three of them and then shook his head, "Don’t introduce me, it’s already a big thing to have two Dragons in front of them, if they get to know that there’s a third one this could have an opposite effect. You don’t want your plans foiled."

"That’s hardly a reason for you to stay out." Ocean crossed his arms at his chest.

"Master’s right, you’re a part of the family too, so it’s only natural that you will be introduced too." Kai said.

Sol looked at both of them as he pursed his lips but before he could open his mouth Davian spoke up.

"And be honest, it’s because you don’t like crowds that you don’t want to attend, don’t you?"

The tone of playfulness seemed completely out of place in the room but Davian didn’t seem to care as he smiled at Sol.

"Don’t worry, just be by my side and I’ll take care of it all."

Sol opened his mouth and then closed it again before he sighed and shook his head.

"I... can’t attend the ball."

Ocean noticed the way Sol was insisting and said, "Fine, I’ll hear your reason later, Sol. But if it doesn’t seem important then you will attend this ball with me and Kai. Do you understand?"

Sol looked at Ocean and then clicked his tongue before saying, "Fine."

Ocean then looked at the other men and Lord Devil asked, "Master, what would we do about the head?"

"Like I said, I have dispatched some people in places where I have my doubts but still, we’ll find soon enough of where this head would be." Ocean said.

"But, Master, isn’t it like a declaration of war from the demons’ side?" Lord Snake asked.

Ocean’s lashes lowered a little, eyes drifting over to the body in the glass box. It was like a declaration of war indeed, and it seemed as if the things were finally starting to happen now. The purpose of his/Reina’s birth and the quests, the system and all, was this war. And Ocean had to stop this war.

"It is," Ocean affirmed, "But we can’t have a war. There must not be a war."

Everyone in the room looked tensed as yet, there was no plan but if Ocean insisted that there shouldn’t be a war then he would make sure of it.

"For that we must hurry with the trials and start fixing the minor troubles." Ocean muttered.

Rune blinked as if recalling something and then asked, "What about Elvenland then?"

Ocean looked at him, having trouble in Elvenland also meant that the demon influenced angle could be involved. Ocean couldn’t ignore it, it was like a situation that did demand attention.

"What’s wrong with Elvenland?" Lord Zach asked.

Ocean sighed and began explaining about the civil war making them all look like they were caught up in the middle of a tug-of-war.

He ran a hand through his hair, "I will have to look into it as well."

Roan spoke, "But handling all those issues at once-"

"Didn’t you say you’d do it after the trials?" Rune cut in through Roan’s words growing at Ocean. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Ocean glanced at Rune and then at Roan.

"Handling those issues at once is a hassle that’s why I’m and planning on waiting till the trials are done."

"But what if the war breaks out and everything is destroyed till that time?" Davian asked recieving a concealed glare from Rune.

Sol glanced at both of them before he spoke up, "The civil war would mean that everything would probably become like a domino, even though Elves are a secluded race, they trade with the Dwarves, who in turn trade with the Merfolk and Merfolk trade with humans."

Sol didn’t have to speak ahead as Ocean understood the further points, "It won’t exactly be a big blow at once but it will start affecting humans too. To the point, that it would affect people’s livelihoods here."

"So, the war needs to be stopped." Marquis Fairisles concluded.

This meant that Ocean either had to work double shifts or he had to rush one work to get to another.

Kai who had been pondering over it suddenly blinked and looked up at Ocean, "Master, I have a suggestion."

Ocean and others looked at Kai.

"What is it?"

Kai opened his mouth looking slightly nervoice and Ocean beckoned him over to his side making him face the people. Kai felt a little more nervous but then Ocean squeezed Kai’s shoulder gently before stepping a bit to the side joining the audience.

Kai glanced at Ocean, Sol and Davian once before he licked his lips. Sylvia, Enora and Roan gave him and encouraging nod and he took a deep breath before starting.

"Our present concerns are locating the Witch or Warlock who has... planted these curses around, then the Princes trials and lastly the Elvenland civil war." He pointed out.

Everyone nodded.

"Then if what if we think it like this that Master only has one problem in his hand that he needs to solve on his own while the others could be split with the rest?" Kai spoke making Ocean tilt his head slightly.

"You mean, I can locate this perpetrator while the trials and Elvenland problem could be solved by others?" Ocean asked, Kai nodded.

"But, Young Master, Elves hate humans, they wouldn’t accept any other intrusion if not a Dragon." Lord Hawke said and Kai nodded before smiling.

"I never said, Master wouldn’t be a part of it," he said making the others feel confused.

Kai then brought up his both hands keeping them at some distance as he spoke, "We just need to combine two problems with one solution."

He joined his hands and Ocean frowned including the others, Ocean opened his mouth to ask what he meant when it all suddenly clicked.

Why hadn’t he thought of it this way?

This could be a good way though.

He chuckled as the others still seemed confused and looked at Kai who also smiled as he realised that Ocean had understood what he was trying to say.

"That’s great thinking, Kai. Even I hadn’t thought of it."

Kai chuckled and then shrugged, "You might have come to the same conclusion with a little more thinking."

Ocean chuckled and then faced others who were still clueless before he said, "A little change of plans gentlemen. As per what Kai said, for the two problems before us, we have one solution."